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Sunday, 27 July 2008

When I started to build a locomotive stud for my layout, I didn't start with research - more fool me! I would have done well to read some books beforehand!

Certainly eastern region stock is a must - but there are other types and ex-railway company locomotives, like ex-GCR 4-4-2Ts, ex-GNR atlantics and a veritable mountain of tank engines, from "Ardsley" J50s to class F2 2-4-2Ts.

However one decision that I will not regret was the purchase of a Gresley V2 2-6-2. I've had a hankering for this class in model form for a while now, and so it is that I welcome my lastest acquisition, 60903, to my stud of locomotives.

In my time period, 1950-53, Copley Hill had no less than three V2s, so I am more than likely going to get another one.

But what numbers would be appropiate? Would they have all been singled chimneyed, or like 60903, double chimneyed, versions?

More research required for my locomotive fleet, so we'll take a break from that. Next week, we'll get down to some layout planning!

Friday, 18 July 2008

The above image is an ordance survey map of the Leeds area in the 1950s - and what a veritable mine of information it is! Not only that, but dated 1950, it's pretty much the time period and area I wanted to model.

Copley Hill shed is in the centre of a triangle between three running lines, as confirmed by the ordance survey map - to the north east, there is Holbeck, and beyond that, Leeds central. To the North west, is Armley & Wortley, on the line that heads out towards Bradford. There are two running lines that go south, crossing each over, from the north west to the south east, the Bradford line runs southwards towards Beeston and Beeston Junction, heading to Doncastor, while the main line from Leeds central runs south west of the shed and towards Huddersfield.

Certainly the area itself tends itself well to interpretation. The modelling possibilities could give me at least three running lines, with suburban and freight traffic to Bradford and Doncastor in either direction, as well as top end expresses up to Leeds central.

More research is required of course, but the more I look at the possibilities that Copley Hill shed gives, the more I am convinced that there is an exhibition layout in the making, waiting to be built.

Wednesday, 9 July 2008

In 1950, the railway scene was a very different scene. Locomotives came in all shapes, colours and sizes, rolling stock varied from the teak finished to the carmine and cream, freight was still carried in four wheeled vans, and somewhere near Leeds, lay the shed 56C, better known as Copley Hill.

And that is the extent of my knowledge so far, aside from the description to the left of this post. Not much to go on, but judging from the locomotive shed lists, it was a small in size but no run of the mill depot. Flanked on three sides by the main lines of Leeds, it formed a triangle, with the yard inbetween.

I hope to post examples of my research here, with explanations as to the how and why, the choice of modelling subject and the modelling itself through photographs, videos and interviews.

Hopefully my next post will be more extensive, both in information and in modelling.